“Dan!” Darrin halted his chum before a store where dry goods and
notions were sold. “Let’s go in here-----”

“What, for?” Midshipman Dalzell asked
in astonishment.

“I want to make a purchase,” replied Dave
soberly. “Danny boy, I’m going to
buy you a hat pin—–­one at least ten
inches long. You’re to slip it in, somewhere
in your togs. When you catch me lagging—–­practice
or game—–­just jab that hat pin into
me as far as you can send it.”

“Bosh!” retorted Dan impatiently.
“Come along.”

Dave submitted, in patient silence, to being led away
from the store. For some moments the chums strolled
along together in silence.

“Now, speaking of Miss Preston,” began Dan, breaking the silence
at last, “she-----”

“Hold on, I tell you! You had almost recovered,
Danny, in the short space of five minutes. Now,
don’t bring on a relapse by opening up the old
sore. I shall soon begin to believe it was your
heart that was involved, instead of your vanity.”

“Oh, hang girls, then!” exploded Dan.

“Couldn’t think of it,” urged Dave
gently. “That wouldn’t be chivalrous,
and even a midshipman is required to be a gentleman
at all times. So-----”

“Good evening, gentlemen,” spoke a pleasant
voice. The midshipmen glanced up, then promptly
brought up their hands in salute to an officer whom
they would otherwise have passed without seeing.